“Fall is in the air” is something we like to say this time of year as the air becomes a little crisper, the leaves start to change color, and popular autumn flavors like pumpkin spice start rolling out. With the changing of seasons also comes the changing of products and produce that need to be shipped to fall lovers across the globe.

Fall shipping means truckloads of watermelons are traded for truckloads of pumpkins, pallets of tomatoes make way for pallets of fresh turkeys, and more fun-size candy shipments begin making the trek to stores in preparation for Halloween.

In this blog, we wanted to talk about the fun behind fall shipping: what we see more of in the autumn months and how a 3PL can help you get those shipments delivered before winter rolls in.

Fall Produce

When flourishing corn fields become corn mazes, it’s also the time that pumpkins start to plump on the vine. We start to see more less-than-truckload and truckload shipments of pumpkins, gourds, and certain types of squash from our produce customers. Fruits like apples, pears, grapes, citrus, and cherries become popular, shipped from the grower to produce markets and grocery stores. Other cold weather crops like broccoli, cabbage, and cauliflower are shipping more frequently from the East Coast when fall begins to peak.

A 3PL, like Trinity Logistics, makes sure that all these pumpkins, pears, and produce get to your grocery stores. Trinity will communicate with the carrier arranged throughout the entire shipment process to ensure that all of your freight is delivered safely and on time.

Halloween Candy

Who didn’t love putting on a costume and collecting candy from neighbors far and wide? Americans last year spent more than $2.6 billion on candy for Halloween. That breaks down to more than 600 million pounds of confection, equivalent to the weight of six Titanic ships! If all of that was packed into trucks, that would be more than 1400 full truckloads. Retailers from coast to coast are stocking up on all types of candy to get their share of the “holiday goodies.”

Logistics companies see a strong increase in business during the sweet tooth season that is Halloween. Shipping candy can be tricky, especially when temperatures are high. No one wants their once solid candy bar to be delivered as a gooey chocolate mess. Utilizing a temperature-controlled truck can help prevent this issue and prolong the shelf-life of the candies being shipped.

Early Bird Gets the Sale

For traditionalists, holiday shopping no longer starts Black Friday or even Thanksgiving Day. In 2010, Best Buy began their Christmas sales November 1, with other department stores following suit just one day later. Since then, holiday decorations and retail campaigns for Christmas have crept right alongside Halloween costumes and candy.

The earlier sales mean earlier access to consumers with their specific holiday shopping budgets and more shipments of wrapping paper, ribbon, packaging, decorative tins, and chocolate, all of which we can help arrange. Trinity Logistics will be busy helping farms and factories ship their holiday wares to shelves, non-profits, and online shoppers very soon!

If you enjoy any of these products regularly, it arrived to store shelves thanks to a truck!

If your company produces any of these favorites, we can help make fall shipping simple. Just tell us a little bit about your shipment and we’ll give you a quote!

Tanker endorsement is one of those regulations that often get some buzz in the trucking industry for CDL holders. What is it? Why is it needed? When did this become enforced? The information that has been published about this online is fairly vague, so we’d like to set some facts straight to help you ensure that you’re hauling your liquid or gaseous freight legally.

Do I Need a Tanker Endorsement?

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has rolled out a regulation meant to keep the roads safe from commercial drivers carrying large amounts of liquid or gaseous freight without the proper training. In order to do this, the FMCSA changed the definition of a “tanker,” which, in turn, has changed the requirements for which drivers are required to hold a “tanker endorsement” on their CDL.  This change means that even those who are driving dry vans, reefers, flatbeds, and box trucks will be required to hold the endorsement if they meet the requirements below. If the following conditions occur, you are responsible for obtaining a tanker endorsement on your CDL:

1. Your cargo includes liquid or gaseous individual containers larger than 119 gallon capacity.
2. The containers are loaded, and not empty.
3. The total combined volume in those containers exceeds 1,000 gallons.

Where is it Enforced?

All states began enforcing this regulation in July 2015.

When Did it Become Law?

The tanker endorsement regulation was originally debuted by the FMCSA in 2011 and it was said then that all states must be in line and enforcing by July 2014. Since that date passed and not all states were on board, this caused quite the confusion for national carriers. The FMSCA finally pushed a hard deadline of July 2015 for enforcing the law.

What are the Consequences of Not Abiding by the Law?

If commercial drivers are found to be driving without the proper tanker endorsement (if their load meets the regulation requirements) they can be charged a civil penalty of up to $5,000 per instance, as well as possible license suspension for up to 90 days, according to the FMCSA Section 383.53.

In other words, this regulation should not be taken lightly. If you don’t follow the law, your job could be on the line.

Why Haven’t I Heard About it?

This law may come as a surprise to many, as there wasn’t much media coverage when it was first unveiled in May of 2011. The reason why there wasn’t much talk was likely because there was a three year delay from its creation to the original enforcement date of July 2014. Then years went by with some states taking the regulation into consideration, and others ignoring it, since they were not legally required to enforce it.

How Do I Get the Endorsement?

To get the endorsement, simply go to your state’s Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), request the Tanker Endorsement Knowledge Test and pay the fees, which average around twenty dollars. There are a few practice tests available online, like this one.

The smart move is to go ahead and get the tanker endorsement on your license as soon as possible if you plan on carrying any significant volume of liquid and gaseous material, hazardous or not. The process of getting the endorsement is extremely minimal compared to the consequences of being caught without it.

Note: The information provided in this article is up-to-date at the time of publishing. Trinity Logistics cannot be held responsible if any driver is caught without a tanker endorsement while traveling through a state which was listed as not enforcing the rule at time of publishing. 

Originally written December 4, 2014. Updated by Christine Griffith

September 11, 2020 Update:

Trinity Logistics, Inc., is pleased to announce that until further notice, we will continue to keep our reduced Quick Pay fee of 1.5%, regularly at 2%. Trinity looks forward to continue to bring savings to our valued motor carriers during these unprecedented times.

May 11, 2020 Update:

Trinity Logistics, Inc., is pleased to announce that until September 1, 2020, we will be reducing our Quick Pay fee from 2% (just announced) to 1.5%.  Trinity wishes to put more of your hard-earned money back into your pockets.  We believe this rate without any additional fees (as normally charged by a factor company) is significantly less than your presently factored invoices (if your factored).  You can work directly with the great folks at Triumph Pay to determine how you can remove your Trinity’s invoices from the current factored arrangement.  Trinity is looking forward to bringing these savings to our valued motor carriers.

In the midst of this unprecedented time, we recognize the struggles that our dedicated carriers are faced with, which is why beginning May 26, 2020, Trinity Logistics will be permanently reducing our QuickPay fees and making the move to the TriumphPay platform. TriumphPay is a leading provider of carrier and vendor payment solutions. This will drive efficiencies for Trinity and offer a better payment experience to our carriers.

Trinity has been working alongside Triumph and their factoring division for years, as carriers have utilized their payment services.

“Jordan Graft has been our long-term contact at Triumph”, says Doug Potvin, CFO of Trinity Logistics. “One of our largest problems was tackling the amount of time spent on phone calls with our factors. I had recently seen Jordan at a FreightWaves conference and his presentation on TriumphPay. I called him up and asked him, how can we reduce our phone calls from Triumph Business Capital? Jordan, on a Friday, offered to come up the very next Monday and presented TriumphPay’s benefit to Trinity and our carriers. It was an easy decision to move forward with TriumphPay, especially with our existing relationship with Jordan.”

TriumphPay will be a benefit to Trinity by advancing our back-office support and driving efficiencies. By reducing our amount of calls from factors, it opens up our time to offer more customer service with each phone call. Our customer service team will have more time to call to follow up with our dedicated carriers to retrieve missing documentation in order to quickly resolve any billing issues to get the carriers paid on time.

Trinity Logistics, Inc., in light of the COVID-19 pandemic and the pressure it puts on to the supply chain, has made a conscious decision to improve and decrease the cost of our QuickPay Program. Trinity is reducing our QuickPay fee from 3 percent in 3 days and 2 percent in 10 days to 2 percent (1.5 percent until September 1, 2020) in 2 days once processed through TriumphPay. Trinity’s QuickPay program reduction will continue long after the supply chain returns to a degree normalcy. Since the TriumphPay platform is utilized by numerous brokers, this means carriers will have opportunity to not only manage payments from Trinity but from others.  The TriumphPay portal is easy to use and offers carriers the option of uploading paperwork and updating their QuickPay terms with each broker at any time.

“We believe this partnership will be a major catalyst in digitizing and streamlining carrier payments,” said Jordan Graft, president of TriumphPay.

Foodborne diseases are preventable and the reason why the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) put the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) in place.

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) each year foodborne illnesses cause;

• 48 million or 1 in 6, people in the U.S. get sick,
• 128,000 to get hospitalized,
• and 3,000 deaths.

The above statistics made the FDA realize how big of a deal foodborne illness has become and that something needed to change. Thus, came the addition of FSMA to regulations.

What is FSMA?

FSMA was finalized in April 2017 and built upon the 2005 Sanitary Food Transportation Act (SFTA). There were concerns about the regulations for the transportation of food in a safe manner. Foodborne illnesses could be prevented during transportation by reducing common safety risks such as;

• the failure to keep temperature-controlled food refrigerated,
• inadequate cleaning of vehicles between loads,
• and protecting food from contamination.

How Does FSMA Apply to…..

…Transportation and Logistics?

Food manufacturers and transportation companies that they work with must operate compliant and clean equipment, have operational processes in place, training to prevent food contamination, and keep records of anything on food safety measures.

…Shippers?

Under FSMA, shippers are the ones who arrange the transportation of the food product(s). This includes food manufacturers and the freight brokers they may work with. Shippers must understand the regulation, partner with a transportation company that is compliant, and communicate any food safety requirements with the companies they work with. They are responsible to ensure vehicles and equipment are in sanitary conditions deemed acceptable by the FDA. They must specify temperature and pre-cooling requirements in writing to the carrier and ensure that their cargo doesn’t make food unsafe for bulk shipments.

…Carriers?

Motor carriers must determine that their vehicles and equipment are sanitary. Carriers are responsible for making sure the equipment meets the shipper’s requirements and is able to maintain the temperatures needed to keep food safe. Refrigerated cold storage has to work and be pre-cooled to the correct temperature as instructed before loading. They need to maintain temperature records and proof of equipment cleaning for all cargo that has been on their equipment.

…To Receivers?

Receivers must provide washing facilities to motor carriers if they are handling, loading, or unloading any foods that are not enclosed. Additionally, they must request proof of proper temperature-control records before accepting.

Having Well-Trained Staff

Training on FSMA regulations and processes should make staff aware of the role they play in food safety. FSMA compliance needs to be part of the company’s culture and day-to-day operations.

Record Everything

The FDA requires that accurate records are kept. This includes processes in place to stay compliant and prevent contamination, training, agreements including FSMA, or temperature-control records.

Violations Are a Serious Matter

Companies can face criminal penalties if food is not handled safely and are not compliant with the FDA’s regulations. Criminal violations can include fines of up to $250,000 for an individual or double that for organizations, as well as one year of imprisonment. It is critical to stay FSMA compliant to keep recalls at a minimum.

Shipping temperature-sensitive items? Check out our Temperature Shipping Guide. 

Choose Like-Minded Transportation Partners

Food safety issues still occur on a regular basis, so it is important to stay FSMA compliant. Part of that is in choosing a transportation partner that stays on top of regulations and focused on food safety.

Trinity Logistics understands the requirements that are necessary to be FMSA compliant and we verify that our vetted and selected carriers meet those standards as well. We strive to remain ahead of the curve and stay up-to-date when it comes to food safety in transportation. If you are looking for a 3PL provider you can trust when it comes to food safety regulations, such as FSMA, connect with us.

Picture what it was to be a 3PL (third-party logistics company) 30 years ago. Filing cabinets were full of paper documents. Fax machines, handwritten documents, and corded phones were the way of communication. There were no navigational systems, only paper maps.

Thanks to advancements in technology, 3PLs can function without filing cabinets. Now documents can be saved to the cloud and sent in seconds through email. Very few documents are handwritten and employees are highly mobile with the ability to work in office, on the road, or even from home. As great as that all is, even more technology is needed for a 3PL to compete in today’s market.

Technology Improves the Customer Experience

Reducing paper use, being mobile, and wireless, is not enough to keep a 3PL competitive. Customers are looking for more visibility, while carriers are looking for easier and quicker processes to book shipments. There are still many manual processes that are able to be automated with technology, offering a better customer experience. Technology such as digital freight matching and artificial intelligence are some examples of what is now available to 3PLs.

Trinity Logistics looks for ways to improve efficiencies and serve greater support to our customers, carriers, and independent Agents through technology. Over the past few years, we’ve been able to grow our technology and offer our industry audiences many improvements with their experiences.

Trinity Stays on Top of Technology

Trinity’s Technology Team is always growing as we look for ways to stand out and provide excellent service as a modern day 3PL. We have a team of our own software engineers who keep our business applications up-to-date with newer technology.

Are you ready to read about the technology we can offer to support your business?

Tracking and Tracing Options

Trinity offers our customers and carriers their choice of tracking and tracing applications. Currently, we offer FourKites, Trucker Tools, and Macropoint. A carrier downloads one of the apps, giving Trinity the ability to keep track the shipment and offer real-time visibility to our customer. This also helps reduce the check-in calls to the carrier, allowing them to focus on reaching their destination safely.

Quick and Easy Carrier Setups

We have a Carrier Relations Team to ensure Trinity connects with fully vetted and qualified carriers. We have taken what used to be a two hour process down to an average of 20 minutes thanks to integration with My Carrier Packet (MCP). Instead of printed paper packets that had to be filled out, scanned, and emailed or faxed in, My Carrier Packet gives the potential carrier the capability to fill out information online through their website. Thanks to MCP and our Software Engineering Team, the packets and insurance are seamlessly integrated with our Transportation Management System (TMS), making carrier set-ups a breeze.

Up-To-Date Systems

As stated earlier, our Software Engineering Team works hard to continue improving our systems. Our TMS was updated which made our carrier module more user friendly and offered the capability of housing more vital information, making it easy to link up to services like My Carrier Packet. The new carrier module also offered our Team Members a capacity and history tool to help continue building relationships with carriers who have hauled with us before.

Managed Transportation Technology Solutions

Geared toward our shippers, we offer Transportation Management Systems (TMS). A TMS gives you more visibility into your supply chain, reduces your costs, and improves performance. Choosing to house all your transportation management needs in one place and having access to a Team of logistics experts through Trinity’s Managed Services can help increase efficiencies.

Banyan for LTL

Instead of manual processes you can utilize our easy-to-use system to manage your LTL (less-than-truckload) shipments fast and more efficiently. When choosing to work with Trinity for your LTL shipments, you get the use of Banyan Technology at no extra cost to you. You are trained and given a login and password and gain exclusive access to Banyan’s Live Lane Specials and Ground Freight Pricing.

With one of Trinity’s guiding values being continuous improvement, we look for new ways to improve and better serve our industry audiences. Right now, as you are reading this article, our Technology Team is working to improve your experience. Don’t just choose to work with a company that arranges the shipment of your freight; choose to work with a company that serves you the data you need and the experience you deserve.

AUTHOR: Christine Griffith

Your job as a motor carrier is already tough. So why do all your work alone? Working alongside a third-party logistics company (3PL) can offer many benefits to you as a motor carrier.

Quickpay Options

You don’t want to wait for your money for your work, nor do you want to pay an arm and a leg for it. We offer you Quickpay options at reasonable rates, so you can have your pay in your account quick and at little cost to you.

Stay Up-To-Date On Regulations

The transportation industry is always changing. Working with a 3PL gives you a benefit because you will be kept in the know of upcoming industry changes or trends. You can count on them to let you know if you need to update something to keep hauling with them, which can help keep you hauling a lot more loads.

Recognition And Awards

Working on your own has its own perks but giving a pat on your own back is not quite as satisfying as someone else recognizing your hard work and dedication. At Trinity Logistics, we want you to feel appreciated. Annual Top 100 Carrier Awards, Monthly New Carrier Relationship Awards, National Truck Driver Appreciation Week events, and Woman Truck Driver of the Quarter Awards are some of the things we do to say THANK YOU.

Gain Access To Their Technology

Technology drives efficiency, but it is also expensive. You can gain access to a 3PL’s technology on their shipments, driving efficiency in your own work without the extra cost. For example, when hauling a shipment with Trinity, you are given the option of using Trucker Tools or Four Kites for tracking and tracing on your shipments. How does this help you? Real-time updates and estimated time of arrival means you receive less check-in calls and emails. This gives your drivers less stress over the check-ins and more focus on the task at hand; driving to the destination safely.

Relationships

You want to be more than a number or another driver to whom you’re hauling for. Trinity Logistics’ tagline is “People-Centric Freight Solutions” because the company is built on people and its relationships. When signing up to be part of our carrier network, you are signing up for the opportunity to a new relationship. As you work with us, you will build a relationship with one of our Logistics Specialists. This means you’ll work alongside someone who will ask how your day is, how your family is doing, and be understanding when those tough times happen. We work with you to match your unique needs and get you where you need to go, especially if that haul is back to your home.

Open Up Doors

New business or certain lanes can be hard to find. Working with a 3PL can open up the doors to that new business or lane you are looking for. Since 3PLs have many customer relationships, they can help you find opportunities with a larger shippers’ freight or a specific lane you’ve been wanting to travel. You can have the work you are looking for ready and available to you.

One of the best upcoming events to learn more about your available benefits when working with a 3PL is the Mid-America Trucking Show (MATS) in Louisville, Kentucky from March 26-28th. Three full days of networking, education, demonstrations, and technology geared towards motor carriers. You can connect with Trinity Logistics at booth #620296 at MATS to learn more about the benefits you can gain with us. We’ll also be exhibiting at the Salute to Women Behind the Wheel held by Women In Trucking during MATS. You can find us at booth #304 at the even from 4-6pm March 27th.

Our carrier network means a lot to us, because our carriers are our customers, too.

Join our carrier network

AUTHOR: Christine Griffith

This past year was a tough year for the transportation industry. The tariff wars with China and the trade wars raise the risk of an economic recession. An economic recession would cause issues in the industry worldwide. Some researchers believe that all these issues have already led to an industrial recession. An industrial recession is an economic decline in manufacturing. Recently, there have been increases in trucking company bankruptcies, which has lowered capacity across the country. All these issues combined shows evidence that 2020 could start off as a tough year for both shippers and carriers. And it all starts with our politicians and their policies.

Politicians and Their Policies

Politicians and the policies they create dictate the US economy, effecting all industries. This past year the transportation industry saw effects because of the trade and tariff wars induced by the Trump Administration. With the upcoming election, many media outlets have expressed that President Trump will be forced to make deals regarding the tariff issues with China and the restructuring of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) to avoid scrutiny. He claims deals with both are close to being ratified, but only time will tell how successful they are.

Climate Change

It is obvious that climate change will be a major debate topic in this election season. The top three Democratic candidates all discussed the need to combat the slowing of greenhouse gas emissions. This is an important issue that needs to be addressed, but it will have some serious effects on the freight industry. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), transportation generates the highest percent of greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S. at 29 percent. It is unclear how this will affect the industrial transportation industry.

While on the topic of climate change, it is also notable to point out the amount of natural disasters is on the rise. From 1980 to 2014 there was an average of 5.4 disasters per year. In the last five years that number has jumped up to 13.8 per year. From California wildfires to hurricanes ravishing the East Coast, these disasters stop shipping operations and raise carrier rates by going into extreme weather conditions.

Takeaways from this post:

• There is a lot of uncertainty in the transportation industry with the current issues in the world economy.
• Deals to end the tariffs effecting our industry are close to being made.
• Climate change is a hot topic and changes to transportation could be coming soon.
• Natural disasters are increasing ever year. Staying up-to-date on potential storms can help prepare your business.

It is important to note that politics and the economy have effects on the transportation industry. The industry is ever changing with new regulations, policies, or capacity issues. Which is why it’s important to work with a partner who stays up-to-date and helps educate their customers. Trinity Logistics is a member of many industry associations, including EPA’s SmartWay program, and attends conferences to stay educated on industry trends and changes.

Connect with us.

The end of a calendar year marks a time to reflect and appreciate what has been. Each year Trinity Logistics takes the time to show some appreciation to our Top 100 carriers. These are carriers in good standing that have continuously hauled the most shipments with us in the past year. Each one of these carriers receives an acrylic award recognizing them as a Top 100 carrier with Trinity. Additionally, some of these carriers will be visited by our own Darrel Banning, Vice President of Carrier Development.

Our top 100 carriers mapped out.

Outside of the Top 100 Carrier Award, Trinity takes the time to appreciate our contracted carriers with several other unique benefits and awards. To find out more about our great customer service and benefits to carriers,

Click Here

To join our network of over 70,000 strong,

Click Here

Trinity Logistics is honored to be named to Women In Trucking’s “Top Companies for Women to Work For” list.

Criteria was based on corporate culture that supports gender diversity, flexibility in hours, competitive compensation, quality benefits, training/continued education opportunities, career advancement, and other factors. Trinity is proud to check the box on so many foundational areas to create a space for growth and excellence.

Trinity offers paid maternity leave and a maternity wellness program that assists with purchasing baby-related items. Women who return back to work after maternity leave have access to a private Mother’s Room. Team Members are offered competitive compensation and benefits and many opportunities to advance in career paths. Trinity also offers a Woman Truck Driver Excellence award to nominees from their Carrier Network.

“In my time working for Trinity, I’ve never felt my gender would work against me,” said Hayley Dobson, Regional Vice President for Trinity Logistics. “We pride ourselves on hiring and promoting those who work hard, have the best skill set, and strive to grow. We promote a feeling of autonomy that helps build trust among Team Members and Leadership. Additionally, Trinity’s family-friendly atmosphere allows me and many other working parents the opportunity to be with our families when we need to be.”

To date, Trinity’s employees are 58 percent women, with 54 percent of these women in leadership roles including Managers, Team Leads, Directors, and C-level.

“Studies show that companies whose Executive Leadership Teams are gender diverse are more financially successful when compared to less diverse companies,” said Lori Peacock, Director of Project Management and Business Analysis at Trinity Logistics. “It is a positive to me that the company where I work is supportive of women in leadership. The bonus of having diversity at the upper levels is that it helps to make Trinity a financially successful company. It’s a win-win.”

Trinity is proud of its accomplishments, this year landing the #18 spot on Transport Topics’ Top Freight Brokerage Firms list, which is based on company net revenue.

To find out how Trinity Logistics is different on purpose or to check out our job openings, click here.

The opportunity to drive a truck for a living has many benefits; a sense of freedom and independence, good pay, and the chance to see some parts of the world that you may not have had the opportunity to see otherwise. However, if you are not careful about your well-being, it could lead to unwanted health problems, hospitalization and, in worse cases, premature death.
The average truck driver travels about 500 miles a day. That is a lot of time stuck behind the wheel. A sedentary lifestyle has been shown to lead to problems such as heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and other major health issues. Add in the easy access to quick and unhealthy food, the heavy reliance on copious amounts of caffeine to stay awake, and lack of a quality and sound sleep routine, and you can have a recipe for disaster. It sure makes one think whether those benefits mentioned earlier are worth it. Thankfully, you can develop good and healthy habits to combat the sedentary lifestyle and make good choices for your life and body that can make the truck driving career a great choice for a long time.

Food is Fuel for the Body

Driving over the road for long hours of the day can make choosing healthy choices for snacks and meals seem impossible. Fast food, chips, soda, candy bars, and other quick, easy, and unhealthy options are endless and everywhere. Here are some ideas on how to make healthier choices for those long days:

1. Drink A LOT of water. Sodas and other drinks are just empty calories. Keep a water bottle or a gallon jug of water to drink throughout the day and refill it at stops.
2. Stay away from chips, candy, and other processed food for snacks. Good ideas for healthier snack options could be pre-washed and cut fruit or vegetables, whole pieces of fruit that are easy to eat such as apples or bananas, granola bars, popcorn, whole grain crackers, or mixed nuts.
3. Stay away from most fast food, or at least pick the healthier options on those menus. Make use of your cab’s refrigerator to pack your meals ahead of time and invest in a portable oven or portable grill to heat or cook your own meals. If choosing fast food, look at the nutritional information and choose options that have higher protein and lower calories, fat, and carbs. Check out websites such as Eat This, Not That to help make healthier choices at restaurants.
4. Plan meals and snacks accordingly. A trucker’s schedule can be all over the place, but it is still important to eat when you are hungry and before you get “hangry”! Waiting too long to eat can make cravings skyrocket, which makes it harder to choose healthier options, and easier for you to binge. Making sure you eat or snack about every 4 hours keeps you from going over the edge.
5. Track what you eat. Use free applications such as MyFitnessPal to keep track of what you are eating. Over time you can see what choices may be unhealthy for you and swap them out for something more nutritious.

Getting Physical, Physical..

Aside from good nutrition, movement is the next biggest thing to combat a sedentary career. Even while on the road, truck drivers can find many ways to sneak in a good heart pumping workout!

1. Invest in a good pair of running or walking shoes. While at a truck stop, fit in 30-45 minutes of power walking or running. Maybe stop at a local state park and enjoy the new scenery while walking or running one of their trails.
2. Purchase a folding bicycle. Some people don’t like to run and choose to bike instead. Folding bicycles can be stowed in a sleeper berth compartment or tossed in the passenger seat.
3. Get a jump rope. They are easy to store and very easy to get your heart rate going. See if you can jump for 5 minutes straight, then 10, and so on until you can go on for a long time. Maybe find another truck driver and play some Double Dutch! (KIDDING)
4. Bodyweight workouts, no equipment necessary. Squats, push-ups, burpees, lunges. There are so many exercises you can put together that require nothing more than your commitment to getting them done.
5. Buy a fitness tracker. These can be used to track your steps and movement, and even track your sleep. You can set up notifications to remind you to move. Using these to track your physical progress can play a huge part in motivation.

Ultimately, the biggest take away from this section is to MOVE THAT BODY. Truck stops have showers, so getting a little sweaty is no excuse!

Zzzzzz…..

Sleep is also such an important wellness factor in our lives. Too little sleep can cause us to feel drained and unfocused, as well as amp up our unhealthy food cravings.

1. Invest in a good quality berth mattress to get a good night’s sleep.
2. Make sure you have a portable fan and heater. If your truck breaks down and you choose to sleep while you wait for the repair, then you will need something portable to keep you warm or cool, depending upon the weather.
3. Get a white noise machine. These are great to block outside noise and ensure you can relax and rest up.

Mental Wellness

Truck driving can be boring, especially on long stretches of road with nothing but trees and signs, mile after mile after mile. It can become monotonous. And being far away from home for long periods of time can become lonely.

1. Purchase or rent audiobooks. Long hours can give you the opportunity to hear a new story and learn something new.
2. Listen to a podcast. These are episodes of a program available through your smartphone. Podcasts are a great way to listen to information based around your interests. Whether you’re a history buff, a dog lover, a car enthusiast, and everything in between, there’s a podcast just for you.
3. Learn a new language with some language tapes. Has there ever been a better time? And if you’re alone, no one can hear you sound silly as you try to figure out how to say something.
4. Keep your family involved. Take pictures of places you get to see to show them when you come home. Tell your children where you are going ahead of time and have them look up interesting facts about it or find places you should see. Get an audiobook and have your spouse get the same book so you can share and talk about your thoughts on it. Video chat as often as possible. Plan a small special family day when you return from home.

A healthy lifestyle for a truck driver IS possible. Be willing to make improvements and make those changes at your own pace. It can take time to break old and bad habits. Try changing one or two things at time. Once you feel you are making progress with those, then work on a new lifestyle improvement.
Good health, regardless of the career, is ultimately a choice. It is a choice to take care of ourselves and our wellness; to choose to be here for the long-haul (get the pun?!).

Interested in joining our carrier network? Click here.

AUTHOR: Christine Griffith